Air entrainment type popcorn dispenser



Feb- 9, 1954 I w. E. CLARK ET A1. 2,668,640

AIR ENTRAINMENT TYPE POPCORN DISPENSER Filed March 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l jfy. 1'.

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Feb- 9, 1954 w. E. CLARK ET Al.

AIR ENTRAINMENT TYPE POPCORN DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1950 Tf1/71.1.1.9 Ef ZAR/Q rfb/JN BEAM.,

A IN V EN TORS.

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Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR ENTRAINMENT TYPE POPCORN DISPENSER Willis E. Clark and J ohn E. Beall, Los Angeles, Calif.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing equipment particularly adapted for the dispensing of popcorn from a supply of corn within a storage chamber into individual containers at a delivery location.

` The dispensing equipment shown in the present application is substantially the same as that disclosed in our copending application Serial Number 147,671. In that application, we have specifically claimed certain mechanism employed in the dispenser for successively feeding individual containers to a delivery location, together with a number of timing and automatic control features related to this container feeding apparatus. The present application, on the other hand, is directed to such :features as the manner of accommodation of the various dispenser parts within a housing to attain maximum effectiveness of operation combined with simplicity of construction, while at the same time aifording ready access to the interior of the apparatus for lling and servicing.

` As will appear, the above results are attained in part by providing a door at the front of the dispenser housing having a central opening affording access to an inner delivery location and carrying on its rear side certain parts movable, upon closing of the door, into interiitting operative relation with various parts carried by the main section of the housing. In this connection, we prefer to mount to the door a popcorn collection chamber into which corn is transferred from a storage chamber within the housing, .and from which the corn is then dispensed to the delivery location. This collection chamber may be movable, upon closing the door, to a position overlying a container holder, preferably carried by themain section of the housing, and into which individual boxes or the like may be successively fed from a supply of containers. Particularly contemplated also is the mounting of a collection chamber on the door in such position as to move, upon .closing the door, into a predetermined overiiow relation with the storage chamber, in which relation any excess corn transferred to the collection chamber overiiows into the storage chamber.

In certain respects, the apparatus of the present invention is an improvement on the popcorn dispensing device shown in application Ser, No.146,59'7, iiled August 28, 1948 by Earnest E. Martin. Specifically, Ain the Martin application, corn is transferred between a storage chamber anda collection chamber by entrainment Vin a rapidlyl moving stream of air, and is carried during such transfer pasta transparentv viewing wall or dome, to create an eye-catching visual effect upon each operation of the apparatus, An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser having such an upper viewing wall or dome and yet which is so designed' as to facilitate filling of the inner storage chamber beneath the dome. This is achieved by mounting the dome to an upper housing cover adapted for movement from its normal closed condition to an open condition in which the storage chamber is readily accessible for filling.

Further features of the invention involve improved methods of baiiiing the air entrained corn to direct it most easily and yet positively along the inside of the transparent wall or dome. In this connection, we attain a most attractive visual effect, while also simplifying the dispenser construction and facilitating access to the storage chamber, by discharging the corn openly against an angular baiile element posi-A tioned at one end of the viewing wall, this baille acting to direct the corn along the inside of the wall and toward the collection chamber. In the preferred form of the invention, the baffle is positioned at the rear of a forwardly elongated viewing dome and acts to direct the corn along the inside of the dome and into a forward collection chamber.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front View of a preferred form of automatic popcorn dispenser, with the front door partially broken away to reveal the inner box ejeoting apparatus; i

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the dispenser taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section looking forwardly along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing only those parts of the dispenser that are carried by the housing door;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showing the popcorn dispensing valve; andA Fig. 5 is a fragmentary verticalrsection taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Referring rst'to Figs. 1 ,and 2, the illustrated a rear vdially-extendng Storage Chamber t4 for receiving popped corn to be dispensed, a blower I5 for creating an upward flow of air within the storage chamber to entrain and carry corn upwardly and then forwardly along the inside of the cover dome, a collection or measuring chamber I6 carried by the door for receiving the transferred corn, a box holder I1 carried. by the main portion .of the housing and adapted to hold a single box into which corn is dispensed from the measuring chamber, and box ejecting apparatus I8 for feeding a single box into the box holder upon each operation of the machine.

The main or stationary section of the housing IU includes a lower rectangular portion YI9 carried on legs 2G, and an upper vertically Yextending portion 2|. Upper portion 2| of the stationary section of the housing =is=fof ahorizontal section corresponding to lower portion I-9, except at the front of the-,housing where the upstanding lportion 2| terminates at a forward wall 22 'inwardly recessed-for reception of the 'door I I. --Wall 22 has Va lower opening 23 affording access jto the lower interior ofhousing portion 2 Ir when the Vdoor is 'in' its open condition.

Along most of the .vertical extent, storage chamber kIt is rectangular and of `horizontal section only slightly'less than the stationary section of thehousing. At its lower end, chamber I4 has converging side and forward walls 24 leading toa restricted lower air. inlet 25 containing an air lpassi-.ng screen 26. Heaters .2l may extend along the converging-lower walls of the storage chamber to maintain the corn within the chamber at a proper temperature. Blower i5, driven by motor'2`8., is contained at `the bottom of housingportion-Zl, vand creates a .dow of air directed upwardly `by an angular discharge line 29 into the lower .end oflthe storage chamber.

The flow of air fromrblower I5 is conducted upwardly through the corn-in. the storage chamber `by la vertically extending Ytube-Sil mounted to therear wall .of .the storage-chamber by a pair 0f=straps3 The lower'end ofthis tube isrspaced from the converging (storage chamber walls1so thatcorn from the storage chamber-may pass downwardly about the end ofthe tube to 'be entrained by the upward blast-@fair from the blower.

Cover I3 -is mounted tol-the stationary section of the :housing by rear hinges 29| .for upward swinging movement between the illustrated closed condition and an open vcondition in-which the storage .chamber is accessiblefor the addition of corn. Alongits transverseV center, cover-I3 carriesa forwardly elongated transparent'dome 32 through which the transfer of corn by air `entrainment'may be-viewed upon veach operation of the machine. At the rear ofthe dome, the housing ico'ver `carries Va corndeecting baille 33 curving'forwardly'to .direct the upwardly moving corn from'tube 33 along the inside of dome 32. Above its forwardly curving portion, deflectingV plate '33 has a rearwardly inclined portion 34`which' prevents the trapping of corn above the deflecting plate. The forward portion of #dome 32 'curves Ldownwardly'at 35, to direct the stream of forwardly moving corn downwardly into collection chamber i6 from which a measured quantity ofthe corn is then dispensed. At opposite sides of dome 32, the cover forms a pair of transparent windows |32 behind'which corn may be placed for display.

Vertically extending measuring chamber I6, which may be square in section and formed of sheet metal vas shown, is carriedby door Ilfat 4 its rear side above box holder I1. The measuring chamber is. of a size to contain exactly one box full of corn, and carries an inclined plate 36 about its upper open end along which excess corn overflows downwardly from the measuring chamber into the storage chamber. The dispensing of the measured quantity of corn from chamber I6 is controlled by a sliding valve or plateS'I at the lower end of the measuring chamber. As seen best in Figs. 2 and 4, this plate is slidably retained at its opposite sides by a pair Aoflspaced, Vguides' and has a dispensing opening-39A movable into and out of registry with the bottom .open .end of the measuring chamber. YActuat'ion of 'this valve is controlled by a sole- 'noi'd39 mounted to the inner side of the housing .doorzandoonne'ctedto the valve plate by a lever arm il@ .fulcrumed at 4I.

Corn ydispensed from ymeasuring chamber I6 is received by a box automatically ejected into the holder or cage Il carried by forward wallV 22 ofV the main portion of the housing. Tothe left of holder Il, the mainportion of the housing car.- ries the box'suppl'y holding and `ejecting apparatus I8 which has been described specically'a'nd claimed in our copending application Serial No. 147,671. For present purposes, this apparatus maybe :briefly described as Ycomprising a pair of spaced vertically extending guides`42 for receiving and guiding a vertically' movable' elevator '43 carrying a stack of nested boxes 54. Vertical movement of the elevator to successively feed the individual boxes to an upper position for ejection is effected by advancement'of a. .pair of chains/45 at the front and rear of vvthe elevator guides to which the elevator is connected vby hookst. One of the elevator guides carries a vertically movable claw unit il which acts upon each operation to move the top .box from' the nested stack upwardly from the. stack and 'to then release the box Vfor lateral ejection 'in'toholder I'l' 'b'y a pair o'fleaf springs 48. Stop 49 engages -the secondboxvin the 'stack during'the ejection of-the'top Vbox 'to prevent the feeding of more than one 'box at a time to the delivery location and 'holder Il..

At opposite sides f'holder Il., door |.I .carries a pairof rearwardly extending side walls 50 engageable' in the closed conditionof the 4door with forward wall 22 of the main section of the Yhousing to form with that forward wall a .substantially closed delivery recess behind delivery opening vI2 in the door.

and permit downward passage of'any spilled corn through chute 52 carried by wallsit anda-into waste container -53 removably carried lby the door.

Delivery opening I2 in theforward housing doorII is normally closed by -a smaller'transparent door 54 suitably guided for ldmvnwar-d sliding movement between its closed condition 'of Fig. 2 `and an open condition in which an loperator may remove a'illed box of corn fromk holder Il..V

At its lower end, transparent doorfel carriesa dependingbracket which is yconnected with a' Wirergrill members 5I extend Abe-V tween the lower portions of these side walls 5i)V After 5 tlle"y door has been opened lit is `automatically' but rela-'-4v tively slowly closed, as :permitted by the escapel of air from beneath weight 58 through opening S0.

To the right of access opening'l2, housing door Il carries at its rear side a coin control device 52, into which a coin may be inserted at E3 to commence the operation of the apparatus. The coin control device may of course have the usual coin return lever 64 and opening 65. Insertion of a coin at 63 actuates microswitch 66 which ener' gizes a timing apparatus 61 in the lower' end of the'housing to start the sequence of operations later to be described.

In preparing the dispenser for use, a supply offcorn is filled into storage chamber I l about tube 36, and a stack of nested boxes is placed on elevator 43 of the box ejecting apparatus. The dispenser is then connected to a suitable power source, typically an ordinary 110 volt A. C. supply. Upon' each operation, insertion of a coin at 63 momentarily closes microswitch 66 to energize timing apparatus t7. This apparatus rst energizes blower 23 and the box ejecting apparatus. Blower 28 immediately creates an upward flow of air within the housing through tube 30 to enn train popped corn from the lower end of the storage chamber and carry it upwardly within tube 3G to discharge openly against bale 33. This baffle directs the upward stream of corn forwardly alongthe inside of transparent dome 3'?. within full view of lthe operator at the outside ofthe machine. The corn is then directed downwardly by theV forward curved portion 35 of the dome into measuring chamber I6, which retains onlyenough corn to fill a single box and overflows any corn in excess of that quantity downwardly into storagechamberV Hi. While the corn is being trans# ferred in this manner, a box is fed bythe box ejecting mechanism into holder il beneath the measuring chamber.

After a box has been fed into the box holder and a measured quantity of corn has been transferred into measuring chamber i6, the timer automatically deenergizes the blower and box ejecting mechanism and energizes solenoid 39 which acts through lever 40 to open dispensing valve 3l and permit the corn within measuring chamber I6 to fall into the box at the delivery location. The operator may then open transparent door 511 to remove the lled box of corn.

We claim:

1. A popcorn dispenser comprising a housing, a storage chamber within the housing for oontaining popped corn to be dispensed, an overflow collection chamber in the housing having an open upper end and adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of corn and to overflow downwardly any corn received in excess of said quantity, means for creating a flow of air in the housing acting to transfer corn from said storage chamber into said collection chamber, means forming an upwardly facing surface extending about the open upper end of said collection chamber at a location to be engaged by the corn overiiowing from said collection chamber and inclined in a direction to deflect the overflow corn toward a location offset to the side of said collection chamber for return to the storage chamber, and means for dispensing the corn from said collection chamber.

2. A popcorn dispenser comprising a housing, a storage chamber within the housing for containing popped co-rn to be dispensed, an overflow collection chamber in the housing having an open upper end and adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of corn and to overflow down- Iforming an upwardly facing surface extending about the open upper end of saidl collection chamber at a location to be engaged by the corn overflowing from said collection chamber and vinclined in a' direction to deflect the overflow corn into the storagevchamben and means for dispensing theV corn from said collection chamber. Y

3. A popcorn dispenser comprising a'housing including aY lower portionA and a top cover section having atransparent wall and being movable between open and closed conditions, a' storage chamber in the housing for containing popped corn tobe dispensed, an overflow collection chamber within the housing adapted to contain a predetermined 'quantity of corn 'and opening Yinto an, upper portion ofthe storage chamber 4to overflow downwardly thereinto any corn received in excess of said quantity, means for creating a flow of air upwardly within ythe housing, means for entraining corn from the storage chamber in said upward flow Vof, air and discharging it'upwardly and'openly toward the top wall, said last mentioned means including a tube extending vertically within thev storage chamber for passing the Vair and corn upwardly and having an upwardly opening upper dis-Y charge end, bafe means formed separate y from said tube positioned in the path of the upwardly.

moving corn and directing it generally ,horizon-` tally along the inside of the transparent wall` within sight from outside of the housing and toward the collection chamber, and means for dispensing the transferred corn from the collection chamber.

4. A popcorn dispenser comprising a housing having a top wall with a transparent portion, a storage chamber in the housing for containing popped corn to be dispensed, an overiiow collection chamber adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of corn and to overflow downwardly any corn received in excess of said quantity, means for creating a flow of air upwardly in the housing, means for entraining corn from the storage chamber in said flow of air and discharging it upwardly and openly toward the top wall, said last mentioned means including a tube extending vertically within the storage chamber for passing the air and corn upwardly and having an upwardly opening upper discharge end, baffle means formed separately from said tube for directing said entrained corn along the inside of said transparent portion of the top wall within sight from outside of the housing and then into the collection chamber, and means for dispensing the corn from the collection chamber.

5. A popcorn dispenser comprising a housing having a top wall with a transparent portion, a storage chamber in the housing for containing popped corn to be dispensed, an overflow collection chamber adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of corn and opening into an upper portion of the storage chamber to overflow downwardly thereinto any corn received in excess of said quantity, means for creating a flow of air upwardly in the housing, means for entraining corn from the storage chamber in said iiow of air and discharging it upwardly and openly toward said top wall, said last mentioned means comprising a tube extending vertically Within. the: storagechamber for passingI the; air.

and, comI upwardly and hav-ing an upwardly opening upper discharge end, a baie formed separatelyv from said tube positionedr in the upward path of the corn thus entrained andv acting-l to direct it generally horizontally along the inside of the transparent wall within. sightirom outside of the housing and toward the collec-` tion chamber, andy means fory dispensing the corn from the collection chamber.

6. A popcorn' dispenser comprising a .housing having a top wall with a transparent portion,v

and having an upwardly opening upper discharge end, a baffle formedl separately from said. tube positioned in the upward path of the corn thus entra-ined and acting to direct it generally horizontally along the inside of the transparent portion of the topwall within sight from the-outside of the housing and toward the collection chamber, bafe means positioned in the horizontal pathof the corn and directing it downwardly into the collection chamber, and means for dispensing the corn from the collection chamber.

7. A popcorn dispenser comprising a housing having a top wall with a transparent portion, a storage chamber in the .housing for containing quantity oi corn and to overflow downwardly any corn received in excess of said quantity,

- means for creating a flow of air upwardly in the lthe top wall within sight from the outside of the housing and toward the collection, chamber, said transparent portion of the top wall having a baffle portion positioned inthe horizontal path of the corn and directing it downwardly into the collection chamber, and means yfor dispensing the corn from the collection chamber.

WILLIS E. CLARK. JOHN E'. BEALL.

References cited in the fue of this patent UNH'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 310,905 Milbank Jan. 20, 18815 1,267,730 Wolfe May 28, 1918 1,298,265 Tripp Mar. 25, 19-19 1,519,848 Kramer et al Dec. 16, 1924 2,051,344 Parks et al. Aug. 18, 1936 2,201,655 Srodulski May 21, 1940 2,252,101 Tveter Aug. 12,1941v 2,509,985 Morrow May 30, 1950 

